Hobby Master 1/72 HA6003B Su-27 Flanker B B388, Paris le Bourget, 1989 (w/climbing ladder, no wing tip missiles)

Limited Edition

At the 1989 Paris Air Show, the Soviet Su-27 "Flanker" stunned Western audiences with its dramatic aerobatic display, particularly aircraft #388 flown by test pilot Viktor Pugachev. Performing the now-famous "Pugachev's Cobra" maneuver, the Su-27 showcased its exceptional agility, thrust-to-weight ratio, and advanced flight control system. The demonstration highlighted the Flanker's formidable capabilities, including its powerful engines and aerodynamic design, which gave it an edge in close-in dogfights. This marked one of the first times a frontline Soviet fighter was publicly demonstrated in the West, making #388 a symbol of Soviet aerospace prowess at the close of the Cold War.

Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker-B

Designed by the Soviet Union to challenge the superiority of fourth generation US fighters such as the F-15 Eagle, the Su-27 was first flown on May 20, 1977. This one seat Mach-2 fighter had the Soviet Union's first operational fly-by-wire system. The aircraft is very large compared to the MiG-29, its closest Soviet counterpart, but it is built with a high percentage of titanium, which helps minimize its weight. It is exceptionally agile and is perhaps most famous for its "Cobra" maneuver, which is a short, sustained level flight at a 120 degree angle of attack, often performed at air shows.